Terminal connector.



H. A. DOUGLAS. TERMINAL CONNECTOR.

APPLICATION F lLED AUG.5| 1913 RENEWED MAY I9 1916.

L1 Patented Ju1y11,1916.

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tiene Specication of Letters Patent.

ASSIGNUR T DOUG-LM @a mfUlD MANU t 0F BRQNSON, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION01E MICHIG'N.

' Patented July 11, 1919.

Application ,tiled august 9, 1919, aerial 11o. 799,159. Renewed May 19,1916. Serial No. 98,679.

i `.To allwkom t may concern:

y Be it known that I, HARRY A. DOUGLAS, citizen of the United States,residing lat Bronson, in the county of Branch `and State of Michigan,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inrll'erininal Coninectors, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, andexact'description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to terminal eonl nectors useful in couplingsectionsof exible connectors for conveying current to' trans lating devices,such as electric lamps, thouglithe invention is not to be limited to theinterposition of flexible conductors between the terminal connectors andthe translating devices.

f rllhe invention has for its general object theprovision of a'terminalconnector'whose parts are of simple construction readily as- 4conductingwires and the parts senibledv and ldisassembled and by which firmelectrical connection is e'ected between be included in circuittherewith. v ll will explain my invention more lfully by reference tothe accompanying drawing showing the preferred embodiment thereof vandin whichv Figure 1 is a view of the plug' and socket portions of theconnector in separated relation and in longitudinal section; Fig.` 2`isa view of these parts in the same relation, partially in' section andpartially in planbut taken in a direction at rightl angles to that inwhich Fig. 1 is taken; Fig. 3. is a sectional view on line\3 3 of Fig.l; and F igt is a sectional view-on line .4 4 of Fig. 1.

ALike parts are indicated by similar charigures.

ln the drawing the invention is shown as being embodied in a wireterminal connector located between portions of a flexible con- `actersof reference throughout the dderent `ductor, though it -is obvious thatthe terminal connector maybe otherwise located, the

A invention not being limited to theinterposi'- tion ofthe flexibleconductor between the translating device. and the terminal. connector ofmy invention which is to furnish current to the translating device.Theronnector illustrated also includes 4plug and socket portions eachhaving structural features embraced in my lnvention but the invention isnot to be limited to a connector in hanged portions of the lit with thebore of the sleeve 3 which is that are to `smoothfit of the elementvwhich both the plug and socket portions` have the novelcharacteristics, the invention belng embraceable within either suchp0rtlon. The socket illustrated also includes l,structuralcharacteristics which are set forth 1n my co-pending vtion Serial No; 783,159, filed August 5, 1913.

Themetal plug 1 desirably has a smooth cylindrical portion which'projects endwise through the insulating sleeve 3, this cylin- 'dricalportion of the plug 1 having a circular outsetting flangelt, thecylindrical and plug' 1 having snug correspondinglyI shaped. 'lhe end ofthe sleeve 3 opposite to that through which the plug 1 projects isthreaded upon its interior there to have threaded engagement with ametal sleeve 5 having an annular recess 6 near its outer end formed byturning xa groove in a manner' to leave an outer flange 7 upon thesleeve 5. Another sleeve of insulation 8 is forced, at its inner end,into the groove 6, the sleeves 3 and 8 having butt engagement at theiradjacent end pplcation Serial.

faces. When the parts 3 and 5 are tightly screwed together the' plug -1is projected suiliciently through the left end of the sleeve 3A to`enable Lit to make proper contact with a suitable .complementalterminal 9, the

1 and 3 readily permitting this result. The rigid assembly `of the parts1, 3 and thusefected is maintained bytheconsequent tight engagementbetween the sleeve portions 3 and 8.

The metal plug 1 includes an inner perforated stem 10 through theperforation 101 ofl which an end portion of a circuit conducting wire 11is passed so that the extremeend portion of this wire will lie upon oneside of the stem and a continuing portionl of this Wire will lie uponthe other side of A the stem. The bore of the sleeve `5 is of a diametersumcie'ntly small to engage the wire lil upon both sides of the stem 10with sulicient frictional pressure to occasion very fi'rm electricalcontactl of the wire 11 with the stem 10 and the sleeve 5 whereby thewire 11 is brought into and maintained in rm electrical connection with'the plug 1 without the aid of solder orscrew clamping meansin threadedconnection with the plug 1. The bore of the sleeve 8 is of. a size.-suflicient to receive' the insulating cover-V ing, 12 provided for theWire 11, the bore of the sleeve being desirably, though not necessarily,of similar diameter so that the cov# Jering 12 may also project thereinfThe'invention being shown in the form of a coupler` for joining portionsof the flexible conductor, the contact 9 complemental t0 the contact 1(and here 4shown as being constructed in accordance with myv copending yapplication Serial No. 776,217, ,tiled June 28, 1913) is inclosed by ashell 13 and is mounted upon a s leeve 14 of this same material tightlyreceived within-the shell -13. .Contact 9 is pressed forwardly by acoiled spring lbottomed l in a metallic sleeve 16,

I J2o current being carried through the sleeve 16.

and the spring 15 to the terminal contact 9. The metal shell 13 projectsfrom the insulating sleeve 14- and is provided with lbayonet slots 17which are adapted to receive A25 bayonet pins 18 carried by theadjacentl end of the insulating sleeve 3.l -When the pins.

18 arehomein the slots 17 the metal plug 1 pressesthe terminal 9inwardly against the force of the spring 15 whereupon the cir- 80. cuitis completed, vthe connector shownbeing a single pole connector, thoughit is obvious that the invention is not to be limited to this singlepole device. v

The metal lee`ve or spring barrel 16 has' 8'5 a smooth cylindricalportion which projects-v end wise into the insulating sleeve 14, thiscylindrical portion of the sleeve 16 havinga circular outsetting ange171, the cylindrical and flanged portionsxof the sleeve 16 having 1:- 40snug sliding fit with the b ore offthe. sleeve i 14 which iscorrespondingly shaped.. The eiid of the sleeve 14 opposite to thatthrough which the sleeve 16 projects is threaded upon its interior so asto have threaded engagement, a 'metal' sleeve 1'8having an annularrecess 19 near its outer end formed by turn-- inga groove ina manner toleave an outer ange 20 upon the sleeve18.` Another sleeve of insulation21 is forced, at its inner end,- into the groove 19, the sleeves 14 and21- having butt engagement at their adjacent-end faces. When the parts14 and 18 are tightly Q' Ascrewed together the-'sleeve 16 is forced intotight engagement with the sleeve v14 properly to position the springpressed contact 9, the smooth fit of the elements 14 and 16 'readilypermitting this result. The rigid assembly ofthe parts 16, ,14, and18fthus eifected is maintained by the 'consequent tight engagementbetween the sleeve portions 14 andai. The metalsleeve 16 is providedwith an inner perforated stem 22 through --the perforation -221 of whichan endportion of a circuit conducting wire 23o is passed so that -theextreme end portion of this wire will lie upon one side of the'stem, anda continuing portion of this Wire will lie upon the other side of thestem. The bore of the sleeve 18 isofa diameter sufficiently small toengage the "Wire 23 upon both vsides of the stem 22 with suiicientfrictional pressure to occasion very firm' electrical contact of thewire 23-with the stem22 and the sleeve 18 whereby the'wire 23 is broughtinto and maintained in firm electrical connection with the sleeve 16without the aid of solder or screw clamping means in threaded connectionwith the sleeve 16. The bore of the sleeve 21 is ofa size sufiicient toreceive the insulating covering; 24 provided for the wire 23, the

bore. ofthe sleeve 18 being desirably, though not necessarily, ofsimilar diameter so that the' covering 24 may also projecttherein.

Inthe case of both the plug and socket, Where the elements 5 and 18 aremade of' metal, an electrical connection between the wires and theconducting portions 1 and 16 is -further insured by the engagement ofthe flanges 4 and 171 respectively with the sleeves 5 and 18.

It will b e observed that the parts are of simple construction andreadily assembled without impairing the desired thorough electricalconnection.' The parts are also very readily separate for the purposeof\repair and replacement. VBReference may applications as follows:Serial No. 713,317, FiledAugust 5, 1912, Serial No. 714,207,

' filed Angust'9, 1912, and Serial No. 776,217,

filed June 28, 1913. While I have herein shown and particularlydescribed the preferred embodiment of my invention I donot wish to belimlted to the precise details of construction shown, Sas changes may'readily be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention, but-Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent the following v 1. A terminaly lconnector including n.

be had to my ,co-pending flanged portion through which circuit 1s to heextended, which portion includes an apertured stem; a conducting Wirehaving an end projectedthrough the aperture of said stem so as to haveparts thereof lie uponopposite sides of.` the stem; a sleeve having abore in which said portion may slide and shaped tov engage the ange ofsaid flanged portion to limit the extent of relative movement of thesleeveand Banged portion a -second sleeve in threaded engagement withthe first andl in, y

butt engagement withl the flange to maintain the flanged portion and thefirst sleeve in firm connect1on, the bore of thesecond sleeve receivingthe Wire and stem and being of suchy diameter as to enable the secondsleeved ltomaintain the wire in firm electrical con- 130,

f memset nection With the stem, the second sleeve being grooved at itsouterend; and a third sleeve received in the groove of the second sleeveand having butt engagement with the first sleeve.

2. A terminal connector including a flanged portion through whichcircuit is to be extended, which portion includes an apertured stem; aconducting Wire having r`an end projected through the aperture of saidstem so as to have parts thereof lie upon opposite sides of the stem; asleeve, which is of insulating material, having a bore in which saidportion may slide and shaped to engage the flange of said flangedportion to limit the extent of relative movement of the sleeve andflanged portion; and a second sleeve in threaded engagement with thefirst and in butt engagement with theflange to maintain the flangedportion and the first sleeve in firm connection, the bore of the secondsleeve receiving the Wire and stem and being of such diameter as toenable the second sleeve to maintain the Wire in firm electricalconnection with the stem.

3. A terminal 4connector including a flanged portion through Whichcircuit is to be extended, which portion includes an apertured stem; aconductingwire having an end projected through the aperture of said stemso as to have parts thereof lie upon opposite sides of the stem; asleeve having, a

bore in'vvhich said portion may slide and shaped to engage the flange ofsaid flanged portion to limit the extent of relative movement of thesleeve and flange portion; and a second sleeve provided With ineans forforcing it in butt engagement with the Harige to maintain the flangedportion and the first sleeve in firm connection, the bore ofthe secondsleeve receiving the -wire and Stem and being of such diameter as toenable the second sleeve to maintain the Wire in firm projected throughthe aperture of said stem so as to have parts thereof lie upon oppositesides of the stem;` a sleeve having a bore in Which said portion mayslide and -shaped to engage the flange of said flanged portion to limitthe extent of relative movement of the sleeve and anged portion; and asecond sleeve in threaded engagement with the first sleeve and in buttengagement with the flanged portion to maintain the flanged portion andthe first sleeve in firm engagement.

5. A terminal connector including a be extended, which portion includesan apertured stem; a conducting Wire having an end projected through theaperture of said stem so as to have parts thereof lie upon oppositesides of the stem`; a sleeve having a bore 1n which said portion mayslide and shaped to engage the flange of said flanged portion to limitthe extent of'relative movement of the sleeve and flanged portion; and asecond sleeve in threaded engagement with the first sleeve and in buttengagement With the flanged portion to maintain the flanged portion andthe first sleeve in firm engagement, the bore of one of said sleevesreceiving the Wire and stem and being of such diameter as to engage theWire and maintain it in firm electrical connection with the stem.

6. A terminal connector including a flanged portion through Whichcircuit is to be extended,which portion includes an aper-l tured stem; aconductingA Wire having an end projected through the aperture of saidstem soas to have parts thereof lie upon opposite sides, of the stem,there being means for holding the Wire in position; a sleeve having abore in which said portionmay slide and .shaped to engage the flange ofsaid flanged portlon to llmlt theextent of relative movement of thesleeve and flanged portion; andy means for clamping said flange andsleeve together. ln Witness whereof, hereunto subscribe my name this30th day of July AD. 1913.

' HARRY A. DOUGLAS.

Witnesses:

' vC. H. Powter,

LULU B. DAVIS.

yeo Hanged portion through which circuit is tov

